A report this morning claims that clubs in the First Division could be prepared to cut out their Second and Third Division counterparts in discussions over a new television deal.

First Division chairmen are due to meet on Tuesday at a special meeting called following the collapse of ITV Digital.

The Football League is still owed #178.5million by the troubled broadcaster, which was put into administration this week, but The Times claims First Division clubs will consider breaking away to lessen the impact of any shortfall in revenue.

The newspaper also claims that discussions are already under way with a prospective new broadcast partner, who they believe could be Sky.

A First Division club executive told the newspaper: "The First Division won't share with the Second and Third Division clubs.

"Premiership Two is dead, the Premiership want nothing to do with us, but a new deal has to look after the First Division.

"There have been discussions with another broadcast partner and the rights would be sold for between #45million and #50million a year.

"The BBC could afford that, so could ITV, but there is really only one platform for football, the people that already do it best."

It is the second time this season that the prospect of a breakaway has been aired after proposals for a new 'Phoenix League' operating under the Premiership were rejected two months ago.

The idea however has not gone away and First Division clubs, who already share 80% of the ITV Digital money, would appear to still be in favour of the idea.

Regarding the remainder of the ITV Digital contract, The Times' quoted executive believes that a compromise will now have to be found.

The company, which is owned by Carlton and Granada, say they can only afford #50million but the club executive feels a new figure will be agreed upon.

He said: "Publicly, the full amount is being asked for, but privately, we will negotiate a golden handshake with ITV Digital, which I don't think should be less than #100million.

"That's #50million from Carlton and #50million from Granada, which is nothing.

"I think they realise this has been a PR disaster and they would know that this payment would be the beginning of the end of it."

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan however believes it is still too early to start discussing deals.

He said: "First we need to get the next tranche of #89.2million due in September and negotiate from there.

"Carlton and Granada don't want to liquidate their business because that would be hurtful for them but at the same time they are trying to pay as little as possible.

"If this goes to court, we'll take them for more than #178million.

"We could demand damages, costs and punitive damages, so they had better get their minds around that."